The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-15

with me, you know"
Gordon did know it all; therefore he
subsidized rather helplessly into friendli-
ness, and Charlie prudently changed
the subject to one less dangerous.
"Rowed any to-day"
mo, | haven't; l felt one of my con-
founded headaches coming on this
morning and gave it up. l wish l
hadn't now"
you've only week more, you
know"
Il know it, and | need practice; l
don't pull the oar-or throw the ball
either-that l did awhile ago."
80, you did some good playing this
afternoon, replied Charlie, consol-
ingly. you knocked Mr.. McGinnis
out capitally."
Ibid I?' Gordon frightened. You
know I've got to win that race, Ham"
''Of course, for the honor of the
school, for the happiness of your
friends, for the glory of your country,
but not to get the new boat which your
honored grandparent promised you.
o, mol"
80, non' echoed Gordon, laughing
Wasn't it good of grandfather,
thought He knew, of course that
the embroidered flag would belong to
the club, and in case of my beating
that military academy fellow, he wants
me to have boat of my own"
80, you've got to win!' repeated
Charlie, dec;sively; "but that fellow,
Goodyear, is good oarsman."
'Ihat's so; and here l am out of
training-all the fault of those con-
founded headaches. Come on; let's go
down to the pier and get boat of
Babcock, and have row now"
The day of the race arrived. At
three o'clock the little pier, in a gay
fiutter of flags, was filled with lockers
on; groups sat in the gardens of the
cottages, and stood along the edge of
the grove, while boats, under bright
awnings, lay quietly on the water at
seeing distance The lake was mile
in width; and the course was directly
across to the pier, from a point OPP
posite, marked by a curious tree-a
tree which stood out against the sky
dark, slender, symmetrical cross. Near
by, its branches covered with foliage
scarcely suggested the form which
made its renown.
Goodyear, the champion of the Mil
itary Academy Club, was large and
heavy; his muscles CARRIED more fat than
would have suited trainer" but he
pulled a steady, powerful oar Gordon,
taller and more slender but strong and
well-knit, gave quicker stroke and
sharper pull. But, of course, their
rowing was far from "scientifc;" and
the light boats they pushed out in, and
the braided suits they wore, would have
been thought extremely funny by an
Oxford or Harvard man. The race
was very much like other races, and
was closely contested. When one boat
shot a little ahead of the other, the
boys and girls got excited, and cheered
and waved their handkerchiefs. Good
year, contrary to his habit, did his best
work at the beginning, while Gordon,
contrary also to his, reserved his
strength, and on the last half rowed, as
the boys said, "like all possessed"
bringing his boat in two lengths ahead.
He was received with great acclama-
ton. Charlie jumped to the bow of
the boat from which he had been
watching the race alone, to wave his
hat, but in few moments dropped to
the oars, and himself rowed like all
possessed" for the cheering suddenly
ceased, and he had seen group gath
cred by Gordon's boat and something
heavy and helpless lifted out of it. At
the pier he learned that Gordon with
his last stroke had fallen backward in
swoon. He had been taken to Judge
Morrss house (closo by on the lake
shore), and DR.. Goldsby had been sent
for.
The group of excited takers grad
ually separated into twos and threes
and disappeared, leaving behind them
strange stiffness under the blue sky,
deepened by the gentle, lonely wash of
the water on the shore and the song of
distant bird.
In the evening Gordon was taken
home. The next morning, very early,
Charlie was at the door, He came away
with slow step and dropping head.
Say! s he any better in there-that
Teller at got sick t the race?' called
small boy who was running by.
''Get Quit" said Charley, roughly.
Then he went after the boy and gave
him handful of peanuts with bright
penny among them. What he had heard
was not encouraging.
Later in the morning Mr. Sterling,
the principal of the high school, met
DIR. Goldsby, and stopped him, to in
quire tenderly and anxiously about his
pupil. DR.. Goldsby was cross. He
was always cross when he had ''bad
case" and the condition of his patients
was accurately indicated by the rise
and fall of his suavity. After few mo-
ments' talk, Mr.. Sterling said: 81
feared there was danger; but what a
sudden and singular prostration! What
can be the cause of it?"
''Humph! The cause? Tobacco!"